Report by Pandula Ranatunga

Recently a group of representatives of London Buddhist Vihara headed by the Chief Incumbent of the Vihara, Ven. Bogoda Seelawimala made a special visit to London’s most famous Abbey. Like previous Head monks, Ven. Seelawimala has made a great effort to continue the Temple’s special relationship with Westminster Abbey through many official representations and his personal commitment and perseverance towards UK’s interfaith work.  The Head monk and the group were warmly greeted by Bob Reiss, the Sub-Dean of Westminster Abbey who had accompanied Michelle Obama on a tour of the Abbey during the Obamas’ recent state visit to UK. As the evening sun began to shine through the intricate stained glass, the columns of the magnificent Abbey and the astonishing fan vault ceiling that epitomise Gothic architectural splendour basked in its golden warmth.  And so as the pealing of Big Ben’s bells subsided, the echoing sound of the magnificent choir filled the ancient Abbey where the congregation included First Lady and the High Commissioner of Cyprus. Seated near the Nave, on the famous pews with the crimson coloured lamps, the LBV group had a firsthand experience of the Abbey’s ancient and iconic rituals.  After the service the Head monk was greeted by The Dean of Westminster Abbey the Right Reverend Dr John Hall.

The group then had a guided tour of the Abbey by Rev. Robert Reiss and were joined by Rev. Andrew Tremlett  Cannon of Westminster also the Rector of St Margaret’s Church which stands beside Westminster Abbey, who described the Abbey’s vast and awe inspiring medieval history and architecture. The Abbey is a must-see living pageant of British history where Kings and queens were crowned and buried as well as a shrine to some of England’s most renowned statesmen and soldiers; poets, priests, heroes and villains: just over 3,000 great men and women are buried or memorialised at the Abbey. Among some of the well-known names are; Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, Geoffrey Chaucer, Oliver Cromwell, Henry Purcell, Charles Darwin, Lord Byron, William Willberforce, William Wordsworth, William Ewart Gladstone, Sir Lawrence Olivier, Alfred Tenyson, and Ernest Rutherford.

Relating interesting medieval stories to present day incidents and anecdotes, Rev. Robert Reiss and Rev. Andrew Tremlett explained the more than thousand year long history of the Abbey. Moving from one tomb to another the cannons told the stories of those buried under the magnificent Alabaster stone work with decorative motifs and carvings. Westminster Abbey is a treasure house of paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles and other artefacts, and comprises the most significant single collection of monumental sculpture anywhere in the United Kingdom.

 The informative brief tour began from the place of the famous coronation chair made by Edward I, from which 38 coronations have taken place since William the Conqueror was crowned here on Christmas Day 1066. The present Queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was crowned on June 2, 1953 at the Abbey. The chair now under conservation placed in a specially built enclosure in St George’s Chapel at the west end of the Abbey’s nave.

From the Cosmati Pavement to the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor, from Henry VII's Lady Chapel to Poets' Corner the group had a chance to see all the Abbey’s iconic sites. Among those places, it was a special privilege for the group to see The Shrine of St Edward the Confessor which is not included in the normal guided tour of the Abbey. This is situated right behind the High altar of the Abbey, where during recent Royal Wedding, Prince William and Kate Middleton disappeared to sign the marriage registry. After the great tour, LBV group was invited to the Sub-Dean’s House for refreshments. All in all it was one of the most fascinating and inspiring tours for the London Buddhist Vihara group which the Chief Incumbent of the Vihara, Ven. Bogoda Seelawimala said “it’s like reading ten books at one go such amount of valuable and historical information in abundance. He thanked both Cannons for their kindness and generosity shown to him and the group during this special visit to the West Minster Abbey. 

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